This competition is for any young musicians from middle school through senior year of high school, including graduating seniors. Applicants must be residents of Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach or Monroe Counties, and enrolled at the middle school or senior high level as of August, 2023.

This competition is open to any young aspiring orchestral musician trained in any of the following instruments: flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, saxophone; french horn, trumpet, trombone, tuba; percussion, harp, piano; violin, viola, cello, guitar or double bass. Previous winners who have already performed with the Alhambra Orchestra are eligible to compete if they did not win first place on the same instrument.

Finalists are required to attend at least three rehearsals with the orchestra prior to the actual concert. Normally, rehearsals take place on Wednesday evening in the South Miami area. Wednesday evening rehearsals: January 3, 10, and 17, 2024.

Musicians can select one movement of a standard concerto written for solo instrument with orchestral accompaniment. The list below is not a requirement, just some recommendations.

All auditions will be via virtual submission. Your submission must be in video format. Piano Accompaniment is required, even if pre-recorded. No submissions will be accepted without accompaniment.

Submissions are due with this completed application not later than midnight on Saturday, October 31, 2023. One submission is allowed per applicant. Once a submission is sent and received, no further submissions will be accepted from the same applicant. The judging panel will adjudicate recordings November 1-8, 2023. Applicants will be notified if they advance to the final round not later than November 8, 2023. The final round will take place Sunday, November 19, 2023 between 2 and 4 pm.

Three winners and one alternate may be selected from those who compete. The first place winner receives a prize of $700. Second place receives a prize of $300 and third place receives $200 towards their music education.

The audition committee reserves the right to award no winner and/or to award alternate cash and performance prizes to honorable mention performers at the committee’s discretion. The audition committee reserves the right to withhold or redistribute cash prize at its discretion.

Winner and alternate must complete a W-9 form and waiver. If a live performance is possible, the three winners will be featured in a concert at FIU Wertheim Performing Arts Auditorium on Sunday, January 21, 2024, and the alternate will perform if one of the three cannot do so. If the scheduled performance cannot happen, the Alhambra Orchestra may, at its discretion, afford the winner(s) alternative performance opportunities. Performance with the orchestra is not guaranteed.

Chronological list of Winners Of Alhambra Orchestra’s Ray Millete Memorial Young Artist Competition